AAC Military Bowl Affiliation; Smallwood On Nagurski List

The American Athletic Conference, which needs to attain new bowl affiliations after this season, has entered into a long-term partnership with the Military Bowl, beginning in the 2014 football season.

The American will have a team in that game from 2014-2019, according to the agreement announced Thursday. The American team will come from a pool of the third through sixth selections of bowl-eligible teams.

An Atlantic Coast Conference team will be the opponent.

"We are proud to announce this partnership with the Military Bowl," AAC commissioner Mike Aresco said in a press release. "Our objectives when choosing bowl partners are to find quality matchups in desirable destinations attractive to our teams, coaches and fans. The Military Bowl not only meets these objectives, it embodies the core values and identity of our reinvented Conference. We admire the work of the DC Bowl Committee in supporting the USO and our men and women in uniform. We look forward to creating memorable experiences in the National Capital Region for our student-athletes and fans."

The Military Bowl will be played at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md., home site of future American member Navy, beginning in 2013. The first five editions of the game were at RFK Stadium in Washington.

"We are excited to partner with the American Athletic Conference as it reestablishes its brand," said Military Bowl President Steve Beck. "With so many schools and their alumni within driving distance, we believe fans will come out and support their teams in our game."

The American is expected to announce its remaining bowl partnerships soon. The Military bowl offsets one of three (Belk, Pinstripe and Russell Athletic) that will no longer affiliated with what was the Big East after the 2013 season. The ACC is now a participant in each of those games. The AAC is expected to keep its tie-ins with the Beef O'Brady Bowl in St. Petersburg and BBVA Compass (Birmingham, Ala.)

The American will likely hold its own bowl in Florida.

Smallwood On Watch List

UConn junior linebacker Yawin Smallwood was named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list by the Football Writers Association of America.

The trophy goes to the national defensive player of the year, voted by the FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club. The five finalists are announced Nov. 21. Smallwood was a first team All-Big East pick in 2012. He led the Huskies in tackles (120) and was second in tackles for a loss (15). He also had four sacks and two forced fumbles and was tied for 20th in the country in tackles per game (10.0).

Smallwood also is on the Maxwell Club's Chuck Bednarik Award watch list for best defensive player in the nation.